Bournemouth were controversially denied a penalty early in the second half of their 0-0 draw with Brentford at the Vitality Stadium.
Less than 90 seconds after the restart, Alex Jimenez played a ball through the heart of the Bees’ defence to Marcus Tavernier, who darted past Michael Kayode into the box and swept his connection onto the left-hand post.
On first glance, it looked as though the forward had lost his balance, but replays showed Kayode caught his opponent on the Achilles as he approached the ball.
“I think it is a clear penalty. It’s impossible not to see it live, but even the VAR… I cannot accept it,” said Bournemouth head coach Andoni Iraola, speaking to TNT Sports.
“It’s a shame because I’m going to talk about the penalty when we played really, really well, but it is what it is. It’s unacceptable.
Marcus Tavernier was controversially denied a penalty early in the second half
“If they decide after watching the replays this wasn’t enough, I’m much more angry.
“It’s clear, the intention of Kayode. He lost his position and stretches his leg and probably the problem they don’t call it is still, somehow, Tavernier finishes the play, but it’s still a penalty. It’s so clear. I cannot find the reason. I’m so frustrated.”
VAR Darren England reviewed the incident, but no penalty award followed.
Tavernier: I thought it was a penalty, I felt contact
Marcus Tavernier speaking to TNT Sports:
“Yeah [thought it was a penalty]. I thought it straight away.
“As soon as I ran through, I felt contact on my arm and then on my Achilles when I went through.
“I spoke to the referee after and he said it had been checked straightaway, there was not much more I could do.
“I felt the contact and you know the laws of the game these days, especially when we have VAR, but today it wasn’t meant to be and it didn’t come our way.
“As you can see, I am off balance and in the air as the ball comes to me. If he doesn’t touch me, I’ve most likely got a routine finish, which we work on every day in training.
“It’s unfortunate they didn’t pick it up, but we have to go again.”
VOTE: Should Bournemouth have been awarded a penalty?
Analysis: Another day, another game clouded by VAR controversy
Sky Sports’ Patrick Rowe:
“Hitting the post can happen. Having goals ruled out for offside can also happen. But VAR missing a clear and obvious penalty for Bournemouth should not happen.
“Michael Kayode clearly caught the Achilles of Marcus Tavernier seconds before the forward made contact with the ball and guided it onto the post as a result.
“To have multiple eyes looking at that incident and to still come to the conclusion Kayode’s challenge had not interfered with play is mind-boggling.
“There is no guarantee that the penalty goes in but Bournemouth were wrongfully denied the chance to decide that for themselves.
“With the top of the Premier League table as tight as it is, walking away with one point instead of three could be the difference between European football and midtable mediocrity at the end of the season.
“Another game and week clouded by the controversy of VAR. This isn’t football.”
Bournemouth fail to take their chances as points shared
Perhaps it was down to the fact both of these teams are in the conversation for European conversation and the stakes are high as a result, but it took some time for the game to warm up on the south coast.
When it did, Bournemouth looked far more likely to hit the opener. Tavernier smartly chopped inside Mikkel Damsgaard and flashed a shot beyond the right-hand post, before Ryan Christie planted a cross on the head of James Hill, who inexplicably nodded over the bar.
Marcus Tavernier reacts after seeing his shot hit the Brentford crossbar
Christie himself had the best first-half chance, when he exchanged passes with Evanilson and dragged the ball past Bees goalkeeper Caoimhin Kelleher, only to run out of space to take the resulting shot.
After the aforementioned incident, Bournemouth continued to push. Tavernier struck the post again, before Evanilson showed excellent skill to dispatch two Brentford defenders and finish clinically. He, however, had strayed markedly offside.
There was time for one more huge chance for the hosts deep into stoppage time, but Junior Kroupi dragged his shot agonisingly past the far post from point-blank range.
Bournemouth climb to ninth in the table as a result, but Brentford miss the chance to leapfrog Chelsea into sixth.
